NFL Picks Week 7: Seattle Seahawks Need a Win (and Will Get One) at Cleveland

Despite having a rough start to the season with inconsistent play from an offense that should have been able to move the ball, things are looking positive in Seattle after a big win over the New York Giants and a bye week to further develop their young team.

The Seahawks' record currently stands at 2-3, placing them second in the division behind the surprisingly impressive 5-1 San Francisco 49ers.

Though many don't believe that Seattle has a shot to win the NFC West because of the 49ers hot start to the 2011 season, the Seahawks' upcoming game against Cleveland will be very important in determining the direction the Seahawks will be headed for the rest of the year.

With a win at Cleveland, the Seahawks will establish a .500 record heading back to the safe confines of Qwest field and will have a much needed confidence boost as they prepare for their difficult schedule at the end of the season.

This is a list that will analyze both why the Seahawks need a win in Cleveland and why they will win this game against the Browns. 

Why They Need a Win: San Francisco Is Good

Entering the 2011 season, many analysts were unclear about how the NFC West would shake out (considering how weak the division apparently was), but one thing was for sure: nobody predicted San Francisco to start off 5-1 and be one of the better teams in the NFC.

The 49ers have beat impressive teams like the Eagles, Lions and Buccaneers and have helped their own cause by beating the Seahawks in the season opener by a convincing margin of 33-17.

If the Seahawks are going to contend for the NFC West title, they will need two things to happen: they must win this game at Cleveland in order to gain momentum for a second-half run, and the 49ers must cool down.

With a win against the Browns in Cleveland this Sunday, the Seahawks can start putting things in place to contend with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.

Why They Need a Win: Keeping the Momentum

The game against the Giants proved to the Seahawks that they have what it takes to beat any team in the NFL. 

Despite losing starting QB Tavaris Jackson, backup Charlie Whitehurst played impressively and this allowed the Seahawks to not only gain confidence on the offensive-side of the ball, but also allowed them to gain confidence in their team in general.

In order to keep this momentum and winning attitude going, the Seahawks must not falter in Cleveland, as this would send Seattle back home with their heads down, and they would be recognized as one of the most bipolar teams in the league.

A win over Cleveland would send the Seahawks home with ample momentum and would generate a buzz around the city that could fuel a big second-half run. 

Why They Need a Win: Road Warriors

Having their bye week in Week 6, Seattle will play 11 games in 11 consecutive weeks down the stretch against tough opponents. One of the good things about this is that six of their 11 games are in the safe and loud confines of Qwest Field, where the 12th Man always gives the Seahawks an upper-hand in any contest.

Any good team capable of making the playoffs can also win on the road, and that is what the Seahawks must do in Cleveland. If they are to establish themselves as a legitimate threat to catching the 49ers, the Seahawks will need to prove themselves by winning yet another road contest.

A win in Cleveland would also give the Seahawks a better chance of catching San Francisco as they would still have six home games left on their schedule compared to just four more away games.  

Why They Will Win: Clevelands' Running Game and the Seahawks' Run Defense

Though their defensive backfield may have some question marks heading into this game (with the loss of CB Marcus Trufant), one thing that is certain is that the Seahawks have one of the best run-defenses in the nation.

In fact, the Seahawks have allowed the fewest yards on the ground on first down than any team in the nation.

Combine the Seahawks' solid defense with the Browns' running offense and you have the makings for a one-dimensional Browns team that the Seahawks will definitely be able to game-plan successfully for.

If the Browns are not able to give Colt McCoy the option of the running-game, look for the rookie QB to make mistakes against a tenacious and young Seattle secondary.

Why They Will Win: Seahawks' Offensive Line Developing

The Seahawks have one of the youngest lines in the entire NFL. Despite having a rocky first few games as a unit, the offensive line has drastically improved since their season-opener, fully coming together in their game against the New York Giants.

With James Carpenter and Russell Okung anchoring a talented unit, the Seahawks were able to provide better protection for both the passing and rushing attacks the Seahawks were able to develop against a fairly stout New York Giants defense.

After their bye week, look for Seattle's line to be prepared for a Cleveland defense that does not boast too many threatening men on the line, thus allowing both the quarterbacks and running backs to feel comfortable in the system en route to moving the ball down the field. 

Added to this is the fact that Marshawn Lynch seems to be getting back on track with his physical style of running, that will definitely compliment the push the offensive line will be able to produce. 

Why They Will Win: Quarterback Confidence

Though Tavaris Jackson may be out for this game, don't expect the Seahawks' game-plan to change at all as Charlie Whitehurst has proven that he is a solid quarterback.

Whitehurst can efficiently conduct and lead the Seattle offense just as well as Tavaris can, and many believed he would be the starter until the Seahawks acquired Jackson.

Whitehurst has shown that he has both the intelligence and the arm (which is actually very impressive) to lead the Seahawks to crucial victories in the past, and expect him to do just that if called upon this weekend against the Browns.